Works at the Douglas County Correctional Facility, a state-of-the art, 186-bed direct supervision facility for adults. It is the job of the corrections officer to maintain the safety and security of everyone within the facility. Duties include supervising inmates, conducting safety and security inspections, providing access to health care facilities, and conducting housing, feeding, bedding, and well-being activities. There are various job positions open to corrections officers, which can include:

Housing unit officer

Booking officer

Classifications

Court liaison

Escort

Central control

Corrections officer levels range from 1 to 4. Employees are eligible to begin the promotion process, whether to another corrections officer level or to deputy, one year after having successfully completed the probationary period.

Is a certified law enforcement officer through the state of Kansas. Deputies perform general and specialized police work involving the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Deputies are responsible for taking calls for service, patrolling to deter and detect crime, investigating complaints, citing and/or arresting law violators, following up on pending reports and cases, preparing and/or serving civil processes, protecting persons and property, and securing and protecting prisoners. There are various job positions open to deputies, which can include:

New employees immediately start accruing 4.5 hours of vacation leave and 4.75 hours of sick leave every pay period (two weeks). These hours increase after every five years employed with the Sheriff’s Office. Eight hours of personal leave are also awarded to employees in one calendar year. There are also eight holidays in a calendar year that employees are either paid (if not worked) or receive holiday pay (if worked).

Corrections officers and deputies are provided all of their uniforms (except footwear) and equipment needed for their job. Employees also have access to an on-site gym, track and obstacle course.

Must be 18 years of age to apply for corrections officer. Must be 21 years of age to apply for deputy. Must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. and a valid driver’s license. Must also have basic computer skills, good written skills, and good communication skills. Must be able to pass a background check, which includes a polygraph, and a drug screen.

Once your application is submitted, you will receive an email from the training division to schedule a time for your testing day. Plan on three to four hours for this testing process. This will include:

Physical test: Must score 15% or higher on pushups (in one minute), sit ups (in one minute) and 300 M-timed run for your age/gender group as set on the Cooper Standards. (See Below) You must pass at least two of the three tests.

Written test: Tested over reading comprehension, writing, and problem solving that includes a combination of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions.

Interview: Panel interview with current Sheriff’s Office personnel

Those who pass the physical and written tests and the interview panel will be given a personal history packet to complete. Once completed, applicants will be scheduled to meet with a background investigator and for a polygraph examination. The background and polygraph examinations will take approximately one to three weeks before completed.

Successful applicants will be given a conditional job offer, which is dependent on passing a drug screen and psychological evaluation as well as signing a three-year work agreement. It takes one full day to take these tests and approximately one week to receive the results.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office provides employees all of the training and equipment necessary to do their jobs. In return, we ask that new hires sign a three-year work agreement stating that they will not leave us to work for another law enforcement agency during that time.

Those who apply should expect the entire hiring process to last an average of four to six weeks.

Those hired as corrections officers start the 10-week recruit academy. Those hired on lateral transfers will be given their assignment.

We are currently hiring for the position of corrections officer. We are also hiring currently certified law enforcement officers for the position of deputy sheriff. An online application for the position can be found here.

What is direct supervision?Correctional officers and deputies are stationed within the housing units in direct contact with inmates.

Will I supervise inmates of the opposite sex?Yes. Inmates are housed by gender, however cross-gender supervision occurs in all of the housing units.

Who works at the correctional facility?Both corrections officers and deputies provide security in the correctional facility. Additionally, we have medical, reentry and mental health personnel on staff. There is also a number of other civilian staff.

What is the difference between jail and prison?Prison is exclusively for those who have been convicted and sentenced on crimes that usually involve sentences of more than a year. Jail is for those who have been arrested are awaiting trial, or who have been convicted but serving short sentences (usually less than a year). The jail houses inmates for all of Douglas County including those who have been arrested by other local Douglas County agencies, including the Lawrence Police Department, KU Public Safety Office, Baldwin Police Department and Eudora Police Department.

Do I need to have any prior specialized training or education to do this job?Applicants must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. Otherwise, no specialized training or education is necessary or required. We provide employees with all of the education and training necessary to do this job successfully and safely, starting with a 10-week corrections academy upon initial hiring.

Can corrections officers become deputies?Yes. Though corrections officers do not have to become deputies, some choose to promote to deputy at some point in their careers. Corrections officers are eligible to begin the promotion process one year after having successfully completed the probationary period.

Does a speeding ticket or an arrest disqualify me from applying?Not necessarily. Convictions for felony crimes or domestic violence automatically disqualify applicants. Any other arrests or citations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature and severity.

Do I have to be tased? Do I have to be OC’d (pepper spray)?Being tased is recommended as part of training, but not mandatory. Being OC’d is required as part of the training process.

Is there a minimum or maximum age limit to apply?Must be at least 18 to apply for corrections officer and at least 21 to apply for deputy. There are no maximum age restrictions.

Are there lateral transfers?Lateral transfers for commissioned deputies will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Do I have to live in Douglas County to be employed here?No. You must reside 45 minutes from your assignment. New employees will have six months following the end of their probation to establish this requirement.

Will I have to work holidays, nights, weekends or overtime?Yes. Most assignments require shift work, which includes working some nights, holidays, and weekends. Overtime is usually voluntary, but could be required at times.

How long are shifts?Most shift workers work 12-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with rotating days off.

Is this job dangerous?There are hazards and risks associated with this job. However, we provide you with the necessary training, knowledge, equipment, and tools to minimize those risks in order to perform this job as safely as possible.